Originally produced at the Mercury Theatre, Colchester, October 2013. Transferred to Park Theatre, London, 4-30th November 2014

Written by Manfred Karge, translated by Anthony Vivis
Produced by Danielle Tarento
Cast: Tricia Kelly
Design: Eleanor Field
Lighting Design: Sarah McColgan
Sound Design: John Chambers

All photos: Mike Kwasniak. Click on images to view larger.

Reviews (2014 London transfer)

“an extraordinary theatrical experience…absolutely compelling”
★★★★★ Islington Gazette. Full review.

“Kelly’s performance is one of an astonishing force and depth… A powerful, layered performance of an intense, one-woman play”
★★★★ The Stage. Full review.

Kelly is a raw hunk of a character, angry, sad and alone. It’s a big, brash performance” Time Out ★★★★ Full review.

“Kelly gives an electrifying performance…dark, disturbing and utterly captivating”
★★★★ Public Reviews. Full review.

“nothing less than a storming performance will do. It is begging for brilliance and we get just that”
★★★★ London Theatre1. Full review.

“Kelly stuns in this intriguing one woman show… A fascinating piece with some interesting ideas on the nature of gender and performativity, all set against one of most intriguing periods of human history”
★★★★ Female Arts. Full review.

“the whole production team give heart & soul into a story that is timely & important” SoSoGay ★★★1/2. Full review.

“an intelligent and moving work about the importance of identity and personal definition…this riveting revival of Manfred Karge’s play has an inexhaustible ability to unite the seemingly irreconcilable. Dizzyingly ambitious, it is a play that synthesises verse and prose, realism and expressionism, man and woman”
Savage Online. Full review.

“Kelly’s charged performance will have the audience members riveted to their seats”
Broadway World. Full review.

“a performance of a lifetime at Park Theatre”
Westminster News. Full review.

“the final moments of performance (are) a testament to Tilly Branson’s acute sense for direction… powerful”
Insect in Amber. Full review.

Reviews (2013 Colchester run)

“Theatrically speaking this is a tour-de-force, award deserving performance by Tricia Kelly… Director Tilly Branson… build(s) the tension gradually but remorselessly up to a final coup de théâtre”. 5 stars – What’s On Stage. Read full review here.

“a tour de force… scenes both realistic and surreal are strongly drawn… the powerful ending is unrelentingly dark“. 4.5 stars – The Public Reviews. Read full review here.

“something of a tour de force for Tricia Kelly who carries us on a mind-bending tour through the extraordinary tough life of Ella Gericke” – East Anglian Daily Times. Read full review here.

“Tilly Branson… gets every effect she needs from little more than an old armchair, a wooden box and a paper bag – and the riveting acting of Tricia Kelly… it’s hard to imagine Karge’s piece being done any better than this” – The Colchester Circle. Read full review here.

“This one woman play is performed by Tricia Kelly in what can only be described as a tour de force.  Her depth of understanding of this involved text is evident, as is the strong hand of director Tilly Branson.  Simply but intricately staged, changes of time and place are shown beautifully through an excellently designed lighting plot that truly makes the most of the flexible studio space.” – Behind the Footlights. Read full review here.

“Tilly Branson’s direction never allows us to pity Ella/Max; instead, we are presented a chaotic, tender and human delineation of an individual whom is lead into circumstance beyond their control – yet, they survive it, with their identity never concrete” – Grapevine Live. Read full review here.

“Intense performance in play that searches identity among society’s pressures… Kelly excels at the sense of a life doggedly survived more than lived, through political and economic vicissitudes… in Tilly Branson’s aptly remorseless production” – Reviewsgate. Read full review here.

“probably the most mesmeric one-woman show I have ever seen” – Halstead Gazette (not available online).

“Tricia’s one-woman marathon performance is truly incredible” – Colchester Gazette (not available online).

Audience feedback

Total and totally stunning performance by Tricia Kelly of Manfred Karge’s Man to Man – Timberlake Wertenbaker

Terrific Man to Man @mercurytheatre with Tricia Kelly dir @tillybranson. Took me back.
– Stephen Unwin

‘Man To Man’ at Colchester Mercury is absolutely glorious. Well worth the trip from London @JoelHorwood

Man To Man @mercurytheatre is superb! Excellent direction, outstanding performance by Tricia Kelly. A revelation! Almost sold out- just go!
@Stagewrite_

An amazing tour de force from Tricia Kelly in Man to Man @mercurytheatre performed, directed and designed perfectly
@Glenpearce1

Really enjoyed #ManToMan last night – was staggered by the quality of acting. @HilaryDickinson

Fantastic evening at #mantoman @mercurytheatre – utterly mesmerising & powerful performance. GO SEE IT!
@KayleighJHunt

Had my first chance to see #ManToMan last night – a riveting one-woman performance from Tricia Kelly which had me glued to my seat
@RobinComms

Can’t reccommend #mantoman at @mercurytheatre highly enough. Solid, magnetic acting. Go see.
@nataliejsonger

@mercurytheatre #ManToMan riveting performance from @tricia3ts beautiful production by @tillybranson – tickets selling fast – don’t miss it!
@danielbuckroyd